Kennedy running back Tony Tatola (3) goes 55 yards with a pass reception for a touchdown to put the Lancers up 7-0 early. They cruised to a 47-14 Seamount League victory.

Kennedy running back Tony Tatola (3) goes 55 yards with a pass reception for a touchdown to put the Lancers up 7-0 early. They cruised to a 47-14 Seamount League victory.

Photo: Scott Eklund/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Image 2 of 3

Evergreen running back Andrew Tela tries to turn the corner with Kennedy's Jake Eckman in pursuit.

Evergreen running back Andrew Tela tries to turn the corner with Kennedy's Jake Eckman in pursuit.

Photo: Scott Eklund/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Image 3 of 3

Lancers rout Evergreen, claim Seamount King championship

1 / 3

Back to Gallery

The Kennedy Lancers secured a share of the Seamount King Division title with a 47-14 drubbing of Evergreen last night at Highline Stadium.

Led by a seniors A.J. Porter and Johnny Lopez, the Lancers also guaranteed themselves a spot in the state playoffs behind an unrelenting offensive attack gained more than 400 yards on the night.

"It was sweet after losing to Evergreen last year," said Porter, who threw for 164 yards and three touchdowns. "The coaches gave me the green light on audiblizing and the plays were open all night."

Evergreen coach Jim Fortner held his head high as the Wolverines never quit, despite the lopsided score.

"Our guys are tough and they're winners," Fortner said. "We beat Kennedy last year, but I'm more proud of this game than last year."

Lopez gained 172 yards on 21 carrries and scored three times. The senior now has 29 touchdowns and 1,446 yards rushing this year. The Lancers defense forced three Evergreen fumbles and allowed only one pass completion.

The first quarter was a frenzy of offense as the scoring started early and often. Kennedy returned the opening kick 37 yards to the Evergreen 45. On the first ply from scrimmage, Porter found wingback Tony Tatola all alone down the middle of the field for a 45-yard touchdown reception.

Evergreen's Cortlee Harris returned the ensuing kickoff 80 yards for the Wolverines, and four plays later senior Andrew Tela punched the ball in from the 1-yard line to tie the game.

Again Kennedy returned the kickoff into Evergreen territory to the Wolverines 39. Two plays later, Porter again found a man wide open, this time senior Stefan Kalalau for a 23 yard score and a 14-7 lead, four minutes into the first quarter.

Kennedy's defense held Evergreen and forced the Wolverines to punt, but Lancers senior Brian Bull stormed through the line and blocked the kick, which Kennedy recovered at the Evergreen 13.

On the next play, Lopez scored on a 13-yard run for a 20-7 lead.

Evergreen answered with a six-play, 71-yard scoring drive with Tela scoring on a 5-yard run up the middle. Tela also made the big play on the drive with a 47-yard run around left end.

Tela rushed for 117 yards in the first half and finished the game with 23 carries for 168 yards and two scores. Teammate Edwin Campbell had 21 carries for 86 yards.

The Lancers finished the first quarter scoring with a 10-play, 76-yard drive that included two fourth-down conversions, capped by a Lopez 21-yard run for a 26-14 lead.

The second quarter was controlled by Evergreen with no points to show for its effort. After a 63-yard punt return for a touchdown by Zach Cooper gave Kennedy a 34-14 lead, the Wolverines started at the Lancer 24 and used 14 plays to drive to Kennedy's 4-yard line where they were stopped on downs.

Porter added a 38-yard TD pass to Cooper in the third quarter and Lopez finished the scoring with a 16-yard run with a minute remaining in the game.